Water chlorinator



July 13, 1965 R. zMEK 3,194,254

WATER CHLORINATOR Filed 0G17. 26. 1962 loov L, A f

Zwf 5 54 Rosen? Ngage?? 3f? BY MIJ @Gau-Lm United States Patent O 3,194,254 WATER CHLQRINATOR Robert Zmek, Chicago, lll., assigner to Everson Manufacturing Corporation, Chicago, lll., a corporation of Illinois Filed Oct. 26, 1962, Ser. No. 233,345 4 Claims. (Cl. 137-114) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in water purification equipment, and more particularly to apparatus for chlorinating water.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved apparatus for treating water with a gas, such as chlorine, to purify the water prior to delivery of the water to a swimming pool, storage reservoir, or other place of application.

It is a further object of the presentinvention to provide apparatus of the type stated in which the pressure of the water is utilized to maintain a substantially constant gas pressure in the control portion of the system despite variations in gas pressure in the gas supply line leading to the control portion ofthe system. This insures that the quantity of gas per unit of time supplied to the water remains substantially unchanged from a preselected amount.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide i apparatus of the type stated in which water pressure-control of the gas pressure simplies the construction of the j apparatus and eliminates the need for small control orifices which might become clogged and foul the control system. It is another object of the present invention to provide apparatus of the type stated in which the gas supply automatically cuts off when the controlling water pressure is shut olf, and further wherein any water in the gas injector, that forms part of the system, is prevented from back owing into the vital parts of the control portion of the system.

The attainment of the above and further objects of the present inventiony will be apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 illustrates apparatus constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention, FIG. l being partially schematic;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the gas control unit that forms kpart of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the gas injector-check valve unit that also forms part of the present invention.

Referring now in more detail and by reference characters to the drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present invention, A designates a water puriiication system that includes a water supply line 1 for delivering water. to an injector 3 in which gas, such as chlorine, is injected into thek Water, whereupon the water-gas solution is discharged from the injector 3 into pipe 5 for delivery to a storage tank, swimming pool or other point of application (not shown). The water supply line 1 may include a valve 9 and a water pressure gauge 11. Chlorine for the water may be supplied from a tank or cylinder 13. A gas-supply line 14, having suitable valving 15 and a pressure gauge 17 therein, delivers the chlorine gas to a gas-control and measuring unit 19, hereinafter to be more fully described, and is coupled thereto through a nipple 20. The gas is discharged from the unit 19 through a line 21 that includes nipples 23, 25 threaded into the unit 19 and a check valve housing 27 which is, in turn, threaded into the injector housing 2S.

3,194,254 Patented July 13, 1965 `that is in communication with the gas supply line 14 through the nipple 20. This passageway 3S terminates in a valve chamber 39 having a check valve V2 provided with a valve stem 40 therein. The valve stem 4t) has a head 40a and is biased toward a valve seat 41 by a compression spring 42, which abuts against a plug 43 that is threaded into the bottom end of the gas inlet block 29. The valve stem 4l) projects upwardly beyond the valve seat 41 and into a diaphragm chamber 44 that is in communication with the valve chamber 39 when the valve head 49a is unseated. The diaphragm chamber 44 is formed by cooperating recessed portions of the gas inlet block 29 and the hydraulic chamber block 31, and an O-ring 45 surrounds and forms a seal around the diaphragm chamber 44.

Secured between the blocks 29, 31 and extending across the diaphragm chamber 44 is a flexible diaphragm 45 having -diaphragm plates 47, 43 on opposite sides thereof. The valve stem 40 is in contact with the lower diaphragm plate 43 while a compression spring 49 abuts the upper diaphragm plate 47. The compression spring 49 is located in a recess 50 that is in the block 31 and, in effect,

constitutes an extension of the diaphragm chamber 44.

' phragm `chamber 44. A nipple 53 is threaded into one side of the block 31 for connection with a water pressure line 54 that is connected to the injector block 28 through a nipple 55 threaded thereinto. Consequently, water from the supply line 1 can be supplied to the diaphragm chamber 44, whereby the water pressure may be applied to the diaphragm 46. The spring 49 dampens minor variations in water pressure on the diaphragm 46. At the same time, chlorine from the tank 13 will be delivered to the supply line 14, inlet nipple 29, and passageway 38 to the valve chamber 39. With sufficient water pressure on the upper side of the diaphragm 46, the valve head 46a will be unseated and chlorine gas will iiow across the valve seat 41 and enter the diaphragm chamber 44 and apply pressure against the lower side of the diaphragm 46, whereupon the chlorine gas will pass outwardly from the chamber 44 through a passageway 56.

The hydraulic pressure Vin the line 1 is reasonably constant during operation ofthe system and this pressure may, for example, be in the order of twenty-five p.s.i. This hydraulic pressure, which will be applied to the diaphragm 46 upon opening of the w-ater line valve 9, is more than adequate to cause the valve head 43a to unseat .from valve seat 41. The chlorine tank pressure is consider-ably higher than twenty-five p.s.i. and may be in the `order of ninety Ip.s.i. This high chlorine pressure is present in the valve chamber 39. Moreover, if the valve head 40a is unseated due to hydraulic pressure on the upper side of the diaphragm 46, the chlorine will enter the diaphragm cham- -ber 44 and Iapply pressure to the diaphragm 46 in opposition to the hydraulic pressure thereon. The chlorine pressure is widely variable from time to time due to such factors as the temperature of the supply line 14 and quantity of gas in the tank 13. It the chlorine pressure in the diaphragm chamber 44 rises above the hydraulic pressure as a result of `any rise in chlorine tank or line 14 pressure, the diaphragm 46 will be deflected away from the valve seat 41 allowing the spring 42 to urge the pressure-reducing valve head 40a toward the seat 41 and restrict the ilow l" 3,194,254k Y pressure. On the .other hand, if the Ichlorine pressure in the/line `lrtand valve chamber 39 drops, the reduced` chlorine pressure will be deflected .in the. chlorine Vside kof of chlorine from valvecharnber 39- intothe diaphragm f chamber y443, whereby Vthe chlorine pressure onrthe ,diaf. phragm 46 isreduced to approximately that of the` Water' the diaphragm chamber-44 and the hydraulic pressurewill 'j deiiect the diaphragm 46 downwardly, further unseating i the valve headltla from -it-s seat 41. This increases Vthe flow of chlorineV on the diaphragm-46 =until theA chlorine and water pressures are equalized. in this way the preslsurerofV the chlorine enteringpthe passageway 56 .is not only`.

reduced from the tank pressure but the valvingarrangement is such that the reduced chlorine.pressure'is kept reasonably constantjby theapplication ofthe substantially const-antY hydraulic pressure on the diaphragm 46.

VThe passageway 55 is `in=.communication with passageway-57 andthe latter, in turn, with a bore 58 1in ,the

lower meter'blockl.` An O-ring 59 may be used to` j seal the junction of the blocks 29, 33 in theregionof the passageways 56,157. Mounted'on the upper VendV of theiblock y53 and in communication with the bore 58 is Y a calibrated transparent tapered metering tube 60,*Which Y `1s suitably secured in place at its lower end by a packing 1 glandl `that cooperates withrpacking 62 and an O-ring 63. In y.a similar manner, the vupper end of the tube. 6G` is secured to the upper met-er block33 by a packing gland 61'; packing 62. and O-ring 632i Mounted adjacent tothe metering tube 60, in any suitev Vsure as a resultofthe Venturieifect created.:y Arnoyzzle,VV

member l99 ismounted:inaffurther enlarged Iportionltltli ofthe bore 9 5" and surrounds.thegiestriction 98.11 The nozupwardly through -t-he .tube 60and will assume a level in;u 1

the tube` in accordance withV the volume of the .chlorine Q65 passing through the tube 60 so that by `observing the level j of the oat 65 in relation to the meter scale 64,the rate .Y

of chlorine injected into theV water vcan be visually de-termined, 1 A plug 66Visthreaded into the low end of the bore 58, Vand mounted in the plug 66 is a oat stop 67 that extendsupwardly intothe lower end of the metering tube rV 6%) to constitute a support for theffloat 65 when the sysf tem is not in operation.

Chlorine that is discharged fromth'e upper end of the t Vmetering Ltube 69. Vpasses through an adjustable Vgas-flow control valve, generally designated at 68, and into passage ways 69,7@ in the .upper meter block `32, The valve .63y

`comprises a valvejstem-71inthe passageway 70,v and the' z valve stemv 71' vprojects* upwardlya-nd outwardly of .the

block32., .terminating in amanipulating knob 72.i` A50` valve stem guide 7,3, through which valves-tem 71 axially.V

extends, is lthreaded into anropening in the top of the block .32 yand bears sealing-wiseagainst an O-ring 74.

The upper end of the guide 73'receives suitable packing 757,a packing gland 76,v and a valve stem retainer 77. A

valve packin-g .nut 78 is threaded lonto the upper threaded end of' the 'guideV 73.' The valve stem 7.1 is threaded at its upper end 79' for engagement Withithe threadedaxial '71, the lower tapered end thereof maybemoveditoward system. Control of thevchlorine flow bythe valve68 is j rnade-A possible since the pressure of the chlorine suppliedV to the metering tube 69de kept reasonably constant in the manner previouslydescribed.

Y bore S0 ofthe nut 78. f Thusby rotationl ofthe valve'stem" 60 and away from a valve'seat S1 to vary the valve-opening and adjust the rate of ow of chlorine gas through the'.

' 111 will also close andfprevent back flow lof Water into s the line 21 and thus operatesias an additionalsafety device 65H v Formed in the gas -outlet block 3th is a check valve.,

threaded into t-he Vtop of the block 30. 'n The .valve chamber 82 is'in communication with aVpa-ssageway'rSS which O-ring'89 seals the blocks 30, 32in the region of the passageways', 69. The' lower end of thervalvestem is, in turn, in communi-cation with the passageway 69. An

s From the. foregoing Vaitlwill beV Y pressure applied tothe diaphragm 46'isrlikewise :applied 1 Vto the lowerside of the diaphragm 91; This hydraulic 233 is urged` against a diaphragm plate-.905 on'thegfurpper,

side ofV a valve diaphragm:91that,is";similar. tothe diaphragm. 46,Y previously described Similarly;the;dia-.V

phragm 191rr is disposed 'across a vdiaphragm'tcha-rnber;` 92 j that is formed by cooperating recessedfportionsof theV blocks 30,v 31,; andA isinj communicationxwith'the passage'-` Way 51. diaphragm chamberl 92. -iV

An O-ring 93. forms a seal ,surroundingihe f seen1 that the fhydraulie- Y pressure Wil1deect thefdiaphragrnl upwardly and'holds the .valve .head 83af;o at its seat 85stoall;ow.chlorine to f flow past valve 'stem `83 ,into theup'per side lofthepdiay :phragm p chamberc92 andV .passageway 294 for delivery to v the Vline v21 and'to,,thelinjeetorfcheck ;valvevhousing`27 *and injector 3. VHowever, fifithehydraulicpressure;on

spring 86 flwillrurge, thetvalve head 83a againstitjs: 'seatl .Y

and shutoff the supply Ylofichl'orine delivered to vthe `injector 3.V VVVSeating VV olfthe 'check' valvejjhead 83dv also prevents any `backfiow of water from thefnjector '31,f1omiente-ring j the .vital parts of the; -con-trol unit S 19 back' thejvalve The injector housingjZSlhas an axialborejinto whichV is threaded the watersupply pip'ef-Liandpthe bore, 95;"is

enlargedl to providea radialseat that `receives .avv gasket.v 96. An injector throat member-97fits` against the gaskety 96. The throat member971has` a'restriction'SSj through.

which the water flows; :thereby Agreatlyto reduce-itspresz'le memberjr99-is of smaller '.diainetervthan the vborrejpror-V tion 10@ andfhasrports 101g-andrfa fnozzlevchamber 10,1

. whereby ychlorine ,may be` injected into lfthejwater'. The

water -then 'passesjthrougli SQllltionY .discharge nipple.' 102 and then toV thepipe "5.1 Formed on ,theqthroatfrnember 97 is a seat having a Agasket 103 for'freceiving-the lower end ofthe nozzlefmernber'99andsimilarlywthe:upper endg. of the nozzle .member` 99,"has La. gasket 10,4; for receiving. the nippleV 15,)2v which;` in effect, forms ',a}continuation Lof the nozzle member 99..' The 'membersf97.,":99`, 1.021areheld in the housing 2S ,by a packing :gland 105 threaded .thereinto, the packing .-gland-'IUS also? retaining packing L tion into the Water.l Thus, the partofithe sys'tjemiin which? V the chlorineiiows frornthe .chamber 70tof-theports1tl1' Y e isVV under vacuum.The1vacuum uisfofcourse, such that Y the ball checkwalvell will be `liftedandxtht opened.

IfV the water pressureis'houldabe*shutod, theg'valves-Vl, l VZ-will, under the action of springs;42,.86,aclose, shutting f otpthe chlorine supply to'fthel meter tubej 6j() fand the chlorine Vfrom the block-.30 to the; portsjltlrlt The valve vin thatrespect.l I l v Y j In 'compliance l:with the requirements ofv the :patent statutes I have therein shown'ffand'described [arp/referred embodiment of the invention-g'.*Itisfhoweverg to 'be .un-v

derstoodfthat theinventionzis not limited to thegprecise constructionwherein-,shown;` thejsarne being merely illus-p Y trati-ve of v the principles-of:V theeinvention. WhatV is consid'ered new and sought-to besec'ured by Letters-Patent is: Y.

1. A gas supply control unit for' afwater Vpurification system,tsaid unit comprising a bodyi having .meansthat v structed and arranged so that the gas flows therethrough irst under pressure and then under vacuum, a valve in the pressure portion of said path and through which the gas ows for reducing the pressure of the gas to a pressure that is substantially greater than vacuum, a check valve in the vacuum portion of the ilow path and through which the gas ows, spring means biasing each valve toward its closed position, pressure-responsive valve-actuating means for opening each Valve, said pressure-reducing valve being biased toward its closed position responsive to said gas pressure in its outlet acting on its actuating means, and means forming a Water passageway into the body and into communication with each valve actuating means so that Water under suicient water pressure will maintain the valves open and the water pressure will increase the pressure on the discharge side of the pressurereducing valve in response to decreases in gas pressure on the intake side of that valve.

2. A gas supply control unit for a water purication system, said unit comprising a body having means that form a gas flow path having contiguous portions constructed and arranged so that the gas flows therethrough first under pressure and then under vacuum, a valve in the pressure portion of said path and through which the gas ows for reducing the pressure or the gas to a pressure that is substantially greater than vacuum, a check valve in the vacuum portion of the flow path and through which the gas ows, spring means biasing each valve toward its closed position, said body having diaphragm chambers associated with each valve, a pressure responsive valve-actuating diaphragm in each chamber for opening each valve, said pressure-reducing valve also being biased toward its closed position responsive to said gas pressure acting on one side of its diaphragm, and means forming a water passageway into the body and into communication with one side of the check valve diaphragm and the other side of the pressure-reducing valve diaphragm so that water under sutlicient water pressure against the diaphragms will maintain the valves open and the water pressure will increase the pressure on the discharge side of the pressure-reducing valve in response to decreases in gas pressure on the intake side of that valve.

3. A gas supply control unit for a water purification system, said unit comprising a body having means that form a gas ow path having contiguous portions constructed and arranged so that the gas flows therethrough iirst under pressure and then under vacuum, a valve in the pressure portion of said path and through which the gas tlows for reducing the pressure of the gas to a pressure that is substantially greater than vacuum, a check valve in the vacuum portion of the flow path and through which the gas ows, a device in the flow path between the two valves for measuring the quantity of gas owing through the unit, means for adjusting said quantity of gas flow, spring means biasing each valve toward its closed position, said body having diaphragm chambers associated with each valve, a pressure responsive valve-actuating diaphragm in each :chamber for opening each valve, said pressure-reducing valve also being biased toward its closed position responsive to said gas pressure acting on one side oi its diaphragm, and means forming a water passageway into the body and into communication with one side of the check valve diaphragm and the other side of the pressure-reducing diaphragm so that Water under sulicient water pressure against each diaphragm Will maintain the valves open and the water pressure will increase the pressure on the discharge side ot the pressure-reducing valve in response to decreases in gas pressure on the intake side of that valve.

4. In a water purication system, a gas control unit comprising a body having means forming a gas ow path having contiguous portions constructed and arranged so that water-purifying gas first ows therethrough under pressure and then under vacuum, an inlet at one end of said gas flow path for receiving gas under pressure and an outlet at the other end of said gas ow path for discharging the gas under vacuum therefrom, a gas injector having means for receiving water and blending the gas therewith, a gas supply conduit connecting said outlet to the injector for delivering gas thereto, a pressure reducing valve in the pressure portion of said path and through which the gas iiows for reducing the pressure of the gas to a pressure that is substantially greater than Vacuum, a check valve in the vacuum portion of the flow path and through which the gas flows, a device in the flow path between the two valves for adjusting the quantity of gas oW, spring means normally biasing each valve toward its closed position, said body having a diaphragm chamber associated with each valve, a pressure responsive valve-actuating diaphragm in each chamber for opening each valve, said pressure-reducing valve also being biased toward its closed position responsive to said gas pressure acting on one side of its diaphragm, means forming a Water passageway into said body and into communication with one side of the check valve diaphragm and the other side of the pressure reducing diaphragm so that water above a predetermined pressure against each diaphragm will maintain the two valves open in opposition to the respective spring means and Water below said predetermined pressure will cause the spring means to close the two valves, thereby shutting o the flow of gas upstream of the pressure reducing valve and shutting o from W past the check valve and into the gas oW path upstream therefrom water that may have accidentally entered said gas supply conduit from the injector, and auxiliary check valve means in the gas supply conduit for arresting the back ow of water in said gas supply conduit upstream from said injector.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS ISADOR WEIL, Primary Examiner. 

1. A GAS SUPPLY CONTROL UNIT FOR A WATER PURIFICATION SYSTEM, SAID UNIT COMPRISING A BODY HAVING MEANS THAT FORM A GAS-FLOW PATH HAVING CONTIGUOUS PORTIONS CONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGED SO THAT THE GAS FLOWS THERETHROUGH FIRST UNDER PRESSURE AND THEN UNDER VACUUM, A VALVE IN THE PRESSURE PORTION OF SAID PATH AND THROUGH WHICH THE GAS FLOWS FOR REDUCING THE PRESSURE OF TH GAS TO A PRESSURE THAT IS SUBSTANTIALLY GREATER THAN VACUUM, A CHECK VALVE IN THE VACUUM PORTION OF THE FLOW PATH AND THROUGH WHICH THE GAS FLOWS, SPRING MEANS BIASING EACH VALVE TOWARD ITS CLOSED POSITION, PRESSURE-RESPONSIVE VALVE-ACTUATING MEANS FOR OPENIN EACH VALVE, SAID PRESSURE-REDUCING VALVE BEING BIASED TOWARD ITS CLOSED POSITION RESPONSIVE TO SAID GAS PRESSURE IN ITS OUTLET ACTING ON ITS ACTUATING MEANS, AND MEANS FORMING A WATER PASSAGEWAY INTO THE BODY AND INTO COMMUNICATION WITH EACH VALVE ACTUATING MEANS SO THAT WATER UNDER SUFFICIENT WATER PRESSURE WILL MAINTAIN THE VALVES OPEN AND THE WATER PRESSURE WILL INCREASE THE PRESSURE ON THE DISCHARGE SIDE OF THE PRESSUREREDUCING VALVE IN RESPONSE TO DECREASES IN GAS PRESSURE ON THE INTAKE SIDE OF THAT VALVE. 